Electric railway.



N0.690,406. Patented lah. 7, I902.

G. DAVIS.

ELECTRIC RAILWAY.

(Apblication filed Nov. 19, 1900.)

(No Model.) 3Sheats-$heet I.

in; 690,406. Ptented Jan. 7, I902.

a. DAVIS. ELECTRIC RAILWAY.

(Application filed Nov. 19, 1900.) (No Model.) 3 Sheets$haet 2.

' ll-IIllllHH mi T IIIHD No. 690,406. I Patented Jan. 7, I902.

- G. DAVIS.

ELECTRIC RAILWAY.- (Application filed Nov. 19, 1900.

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(No Model.)

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Nrra TATES ATENT FFICE.

ELECTRIC RAILWAY.

SEEGIFIGATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 690,406, dated January 7, 1902.

Application filed November 19, 1900- Serial No. 37.011. (No model.)

art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention for an improved system of distribution and collection of current for electric traction relates to that class of system in which there are positive and negative overhead conductors and in which the currentis collected from the conductors and distributed to the vehicle to be propelled by a trolley running on the overhead conductors and connected to the vehicle, and consists in enabling the outgoing and incoming trolleys to pass one another on the same conductors without interruption of current. In carrying out this invention the trolley consists of aframework suspended on two wheels adapted to run on one conductor, an arm hinged to the framework and resting on the other conductor, and a bridge or bow secured to and extending over the framework. In operation the outgoing trolleys run on one overhead conductor and the incoming trolleys on the other conductor, and the arms of, say, the incoming trolleys are higher than those of the outgoing to enable the arms to pass one another. When two trolleys meet and pass, each arm slides up and over the bridge of the other trolley. The arms are so constructed and attached that they can be easily transformed from high to low, or vice versa, when being transferred from one conductor to the other.

In the accompanying three sheets of illustrative drawings, Figure l is a side elevation of a trolley constructed according to this invention, and Figs. 2 and 3 are respectively end elevation and plan of two such trolleys passing one another. v

The trolley consists of a bridge or frame a, provided with wheels I) and the counterweight c. The bridge ais situated well above the wheels I) and has forward and rearward-inclines i, that pass below the wheels and at one side. It will thus be seen that any device bearing on a wire or rail 0 meeting, such a trolley running on the wire or rail will he gradually lifted off the wire and slide up the bridge over the trolley. In order to facilitate the trolley passing around curves, the bridge is formed in divisions hinged together at p, the parts being normally kept straight by the springs s.

The arm (Z is provided with two projecting spindles or axles ef, each adaptedto fitinto the bracket g on the bridge. The bracket g is fitted with insulating-bushes to insulate the arm from the trolley: When the trolley is going out, the spindle e is used, the arm taking the position shown on the left trolley in Fig. 2, andwhen the trolley is going home the spindle i is used, the arm then taking the position shown on the right in Fig. 2. The outer end of the arm is provided with a contact shoe or rollers n at such distance from the trolley that when the trolley is running on one of a double line 0 the contact shoe or rollers will run on the other line 0. By this arrangement, as is clearly shown in Fig. 2, where two trolleys are running in opposite directions on a double line, the outgoing trolley running on the. outgoing line, with its contact-rollers on the incoming line, and the incoming trolley on the incoming line, with its contact-rollers on the outgoing line, and the spindle c of one trolley is inserted in the bracket g and the spindlef of the other trolley in its bracket, the trolleys will pass one another without the arms coming into contact by the arms being raised up and over the trolleys, the contact shoe or v rollers running over the bridges, as clearly shown in Fig. 2.

As shown, the trolley is adapted to be dragged along the line 0 by the flexible conductors connecting it to the vehicle to be propelled, the conductors passing down the dependent tail r from the bridge, and thence passing to the end of a shackle-link t, linked to the tail 1*. By this arrangement the drag on the trolley is kept high and the trolley and counterweight are free to oscillate without aitecting the hauling-conductors.

In order to keep the lines parallel and at the proper distance apart, the lines 0 are provided at suitable distances apart with separators 71, the dependent tail 1" of the trolley 5 being shaped, as shown, to miss the separators.

The current passes from one line 0 through the trolley-Wheels h to the frame a, thence by a flexible conductor to the vehicle to be pro- IO polled back by another flexible conductor to r 5 passing.

The contact on the arm consists of a bracket 1, pivoted on the end of the arm and having pivoted in it the two U-supports m, on which the rollers or tubes n are mounted. By this arrangement all four rollers or tubes bear on the line 0.

What I claim, and desire to secure by Let ters Patent, is

1. A trolley running on double rails and consisting of a main and a supplemental contact and an arm connecting the contacts and so bent or shaped as to pass wholly without or wholly within the arm of another similar trolley running on the same rails in the opposite direction substantially as described.

2. A trolley consisting of a framework adapted to run on one of two parallel conductors, an arm-hinged to the framework and adapted to rest on the other conductor and so bent or shaped as to pass wholly without or wholly within the arm of another similar trolley running on the same rails in the opposite direction, and a bridge or bow on the framework and extending above or inside the frame work and. below or outside the conductor for the purpose specified.

3. A trolley consisting of a framework adapted to run on one of two parallel conductors, an arm having two spindles by either of which it can be hinged to the framework so as to pass over the bridge or under the bridge as desired for the purpose specified, and a bridge or bow on the framework and extending above the framework and below the conductor for the purpose specified.

4. A trolley consisting of a bridge or framework mounted on wheels adapted to run on one of two conductors, a detachable arm adapted to be attached rigidly to insulated sockets in higher or lower positions, carried by the framework and to slide on and in contact with the other conductor, so that, on meeting another similar trolley running on the same conductors in the opposite direction, the arms of each trolley are raised and pass over the bridges of the respective trolleys, the trolleys pivoting on the conductors.

5. A pair of trolleys for the purposes described each consisting of a main and a supplemental contact connected together by an arm, such arms being so bent or shaped that on meeting the arm of the one trolley passes wholly without or wholly within the arm of the other as set forth.

In testimony whereof I aifix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

GEORGE DAVIS.

WVitnesses:

ALBERT J ONES, WALTER J. SKERTEN. 

